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RTÉ 1916 Drama Announced

RTÉ has announced a new 1916 drama series called Rebellion starring Brian Gleeson, Charlie Murphy and Sarah Greene.

The five-part series, which will be filmed in Dublin during the coming months, is set over three weeks during Easter 1916 and charts "the violent birth of modern Ireland".

Rebellion is written by Colin Teevan who wrote Charlie, the recent RTÉ drama about former Taoiseach Charles J Haughey and it will be directed by Finnish director Aku Louhimies.

The series is produced by Zodiak Media Ireland and Touchpaper Television in association with Element Pictures.

According to a statement released by RTÉ today (May 21), "The serial begins in 1914. Europe is at war and Britain is preoccupied with the German threat. But by 1916 in Dublin, the Easter Rising explodes into life and announces the beginning of a campaign for independence that will take another seven years to resolve."

Jane Gogan, Head of Drama, RTÉ Television said: "Rebellion will tell personal stories which are intertwined with the political events of the time.

"However, it is a drama, not a history lesson, and our story is told from the perspectives of a group of fictional characters who live through the political events of 1916. Men, women and children from Belfast, Dublin and London - people whose lives were irrevocably changed by this extraordinary period."

Glen Killane, Managing Director, RTÉ Television, said: "Quality Irish drama is the cornerstone of RTÉ television and is something the Irish public has come to expect from us. It is important that we continue to bring leading writing, directing, producing and acting talent together to tell great Irish stories and create great Irish drama.

"Rebellion will form an important part of what is a significant investment by RTÉ in engaging the Irish public around 1916 and television drama achieves this engagement like no other medium."